Universal panoramic tripod



Nov. l0,` 1931.

O. U. ZERK UNIVERSAL PANORAMIG TRIPOD -5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed sept. 19.1927 lillllllllllll IIII Illlllll IIIIII O. U. ZERK.

UNIVERSAL PANORAMIC TRIPOD Filed Sept. 19. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov.10, 1931-.

IIIIIIII j III Ill Nov. 10, 1931. o. u. ZERK4 I UNIVERSAL PANORAMICTRIPOD Filed Sept. 19. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Il! III III No?. 10, 1931.o. U. ZERK 1 1,831,086

UNIVERSAL PANORAMIC TRIPOD Filed Sept. 19. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4` Nov.10, 1931. o. u. zERK UNIVERSAL PANORAMIC TRIPOD Filed Sept. 19. 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 10, 1931 OSCAR 'U'. ZEER, 0F CHECAG,JILJNGIS application led September i9, 319%?. Serial No. QQQQS:

My invention relates generally to apparatus for motion picturephotography, and more particularly to a novel form of tripod head foruse in taking panoramic motion pictures. The tripod head is especiallydesigned for amateur use, although with slight niodiiications theprinciples thereof may readily be adapted for use in the making oftripod heads Jfor professional use. The principal use of my invention isin motion picture cameras, although it may be used in connection withthe mounting of other instruments.

lin taking motion pictures it is frequently necessary or desirable tofocus the camera on a horizontally or vertically moving object, or to'take a panoramic view of an object, all of which would not appearwithin the field of the camera if held stationary. My inventioncontemplates the provision of novel improved means for mounting a cameraso that such views may easily he photographed For convenience thehorizontal or traversing rotation of the camera will be referred to aspan and the vertical or elevational rotation will be referred to astilt. In the pan and tilt of the camera it is highly desirable that somemeans be used to steady the motion of the camera so as to prevent thereproduction of the View being taken, 'from appearing jerky and uneven.The tripod head of my invention includes a novel form ofsuch means. Myimproved tripod head not only provides means for steadying the motion ofthe camera in pan and tilt views, but is also adapted to steady themotion of the camera 1n taking panoramic views in planes Whichv are notexactly horizontal or vertical, for example, as in photographing aperson Walking up a stairs or hill.

Among the objects of my invention are: First: To provide a novelimproved mechanism for supporting a motion picture camera, orsimilarinstrument, by which the camera may be manually moved steadily inrotating the camera or instrument about an axis of any desireddirection.

Seconda To provide improved means for limiting movement of the camera torotation about a vertical axis.,

Third: To provide improved selective means for frictionally connectingand disconnecting the rotation steadying means to the camera support.

Fourthz rlo'provide improved means for sa leveling the camera andclamping it in level position.,

Fifth: lo provide improved means' for guiding the' camera supperting1mechanism for rotation about a horizontal anis, when a@ taking a tiltview. I

Sixth: 'ilo provide an improved ball and socket connection in a tripodhead in which the socket tits with minimum clearance about the ball, andcontacts therewith only at the es polar surfaces thereof.

Seventh: To provide means in a ball and socket connection on a tripodhead for taking up any play or lost motion which may be present betweenthe ball and socket.

Eighth: To provide an improved means for holding the camera supportingmeans against movement about a horizontal axis when taking a pan view. A

Ninth: To providea universally movable 75 support for a camera or otherinstrument in which there is the minimum of play or shake between theparts whereby the camera may be held rigidly when in use.

Tenth: To provide an improved universal- 80 ly adjustable foot for useon tripod legs.

Eleventh: To provide a tripod head which is simple in construction,which may be easily assembled and economicall manufactured, which islight in weight, o relativelysmall 85 overall dimensions, and which maybe easily operated.

Other objects will appear from the following description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tri od head of my inventlon, the headbeing s own as supported by three tripod legs;

Fig 2 is a central vertical section of the trlpod head taken on the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is a side elevation of the clutch operating sleeve shown .inrelation to the central post;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of said clutch operating sleevetaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; p y Fig. 5 is a plan view of the clutchoperating sleeve taken on the line 5-.5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a right side elevation of the lower portion of the tripodhead, the upper portion thereof being shown in central vertical crosssection; Y

Fig. 7 shows the detailed structure of the foot of the tripod leg, incentral vertical cross section;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a tripod head, with the operating handleremoved;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the'line 9-9 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the element used in guiding the camerasupporting plate for rotative movement about a vertical axis;

Fig. 11 is a developed sectional view of the speed increasing gearing ofthe flywheel controlled steadying mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the camera steadying fiywheel and gearingmechanism taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 2, the central sun gear beingomitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 13 is-a view similar to that of Fig. 12, but showing a modifiedform of gearing in which means is provided to take up lost motionbetween the various elements of the train of gearing;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view of the modified flywheel and gearingsteadying mechanism taken on the line 111-14 of Fi 13, several partsbeing omitted for the sa e of clearness; and

Fig. 15 is an elevation of one of the outer leg sect-ions. with thespacing band thereof shown partially in section.

. The tripod illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes generallythe following structures:

1) The supporting tripod legs with their universally connected feet,which structures and improvements thereof are disclosed and claimed inmy co-pending applications, Serial Nos. 55,350 now Patent No. 1,672,596,dated June 5, 1928, and 55,352 iiled September 9, 1925, and Serial No.208,219 filed July 25, 1927 now Patent No. 1,798,513, dated March 31,1931; 2) the leveling mechanism whereby the axis of rotation for ,panviews may be adjusted, and other features of the ball and socketconnection which are disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application,Serial No. 208,220 filed July 25. 1927 now Patent No. 1,798,446, datedMarch 31, 1931; (3) the handle means for manually movin the c amerafreely and locking it in adjusteposi tion which is disclosed in saidco-pending application, Serial No. 208,220; (4) the flywheel steadyinggearing and mechanism which are also disclosed and claimed broadly insaid co-pending application, Serial No. 208,220; and (5) the means forconnecting and disconnecting the flywheel steadying mechanism so as torender the same inoperative or operative.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the tripod head of my invention isada ted to be supported upon legs 20, each o which is composed of aplurality of telescoping tubular sections 22, which are flared at theirupper ends and are complementally inwardly tapered at their lower ends,there being suicient clearance between sections that they may fallfreely relative to each other so that by the impact of momentum theflared portion of each section except the outermost section) mayfrictionally wedge itself into the inwardly tapered portion .of the nextadjacent outer section to form a rigid, automatically collapsible leg.

As shown in Fig. 15, each of the outer leg sections has a rib 173 formedadjacent the lower end of its cylindrical portion. This rib properlyspaces the legs and holds them apart while they are being extended andcollapsed, thercby preventing interference between the sections andermitting each to be extended and collapsed) independently. If desired,a band of metal or other material may be pressed over the outer sectionas a substitute for the rib 173.

It will be understood that the tripod legs are collapsed by a suddenaxial blow which breaks the frictionally wed ed Ajoints formed betweenthe complementally tapered portions of adjacent leg sections. In thustelescopically collapsing the le s it has been found that the upper endso the inner sections tend to become burred due tothe fact that they arenot coaxial withrespect to the outermost leg section andthe head piece.I have therefore provided means for centering the innermost section andconsequently also roughly centering the intermediate sections. Thismeans comprises a hardened downwardly projecting pointed guide 101 whichis secured to a depending lug 103 which is formed integrally with theheader and hinge lug 105. The lug 103 initially has a diametrical slotextending upwardly from its lower end.

A U-shaped spring 107, which is adapted frictionally to hold theinnermost leg section 22 in position when the leg is completelytelescoped or collapsed, rests in the upper end of the slot. The spring107 is then retained in osition by closing the slot by pressingtoget erthe lower end portions of the depending lug 103. These portions are thenturned so as Vto be cylindrical and have an undercut annular groove 109formed therein. The pointed guide. 101 is then slipped over the lowerend portions of the lug and is secured thereto by pressing its upperedge into the groove 109.

ln F ig. -7 l have shown in detail the preferred form of foot which maybe used upon the tripod leg.. lt comprises a header 24 which may beconsidered the equivalent of the lower end of any tripod leg, and whichis axially bored to rece1ve a point 26 and its flange 28. Thecylindrical portion of the point is striated or otherwise roughened andfirmly pressed into the bore of the header 24. The metal of the headeris then pressed around and partially beneath the flange 28, thus morefirmly holding the point within the header. The point is threadedat 32to receive a member 34, which in turn is threaded into a ball 36. Afoot-piece 38 is secured to said ball for universal movement relativethereto by means of an inwardly flanged nut 40 engaging the ball aboveits center. A pad l4:2 of rubber or similar material may be vulcanizedor otherwise secured to the lower surface of the foot-piece 38. Thebottom of this pad is preferably serrated or roughened so as to obtainbetter frictional contact with a supporting surface. A spring pressedplunger all having a cylindrical portion 46 guided in a suitable bore inthe member 34 engages the -concave surface 48 of the footpiece 38 andthrough its frictional contact therewith exerts a frictional drag andthus tends to hold the toot-piece stationary. 'lhe members may readily.be unscrewed to permit outdoor use of the tripod on uneven ground,while when attached, the rubber pads 42 form a secure support for thelegs, which will not permit them to slip upon smooth floors when thetripod is used indoors.

The upper ends of the tripod legs are hingedly joined to a head plate 50which has a spherical concavity 52 adapted to receive a ball 5t. Theball may be clamped in any desired position relative to the head plateby means of a nut 56 threaded upon the head plate and which is adapted,through a clamping ring 58, firmly to secure the ball against movementin the concavity or socket 52. The ring 58 has a pair of diametricallyoppositely disposed lugs 60, which depend into complementary slots 62formed in the head plate 50 and thus prevent rotationof the ring. Thenut 56 has a plurality of radially drilled holes 64 which are adapted toreceive the end of a rod by which a greater leverage may be exertedupoi` the nut. The ball 54 has an inwardly and downwardly tapering bore66 to receive a cctnplementally tapered end portion 68 of a hollowedpost 70. rlhe post is drawn into said bore by a kerfed nut 72 threadedover the lower extremity ot the post, a lock washer 74 being interposedbetween the nut and the ball to maintain the post firmly fixed in theball. As an additional 84. A socket member 86, formed in two parts 88and 90 which are xed together by four screws 92, (Fig. 6) lits over theball and is universally movable thereon. A relatively Wide zone Withinthe socket member 86 is cut away asshown at 9d (Fig. 2) so that themember normally bears against the ball only at the top and bottomportions thereof,I thus` making a more rigid connection and decreasingthe possibility of having a variable coefficient of friction between thearts. An instrument mounting plate 96 1s fixed at the top ot the member86 by screws 98 and serves as a keeper tor a screw 100 which is adaptedto be threaded into the camera or other instrument. The latter screw hasan enlarged head 102 which is axially bored lor lightness and has aplurality of radially drilled holes 10d into which a handle or rod maybe inserted to obtain the desired leverage when attaching or detachingthe instrument. l'lhe outer cylindrical surface of the head of thisscrew may be striated as shown or otherwise roughened so that it may beeasily manipulated.

'lhe member 86 has a forwardly projecting boss 106 (Fig. 6) which isinternally bored and threaded to receive an operating handle 108 whichis adapted to be screwed into the boss and clamped thereto by means oi asleeve lool: nut 1l0. "lhe inner end portion lll'ol the handle islcylindrical in shape so that it may be used as a lever in tightening andloosening the screw 100 and the nut 56, and its extremity is sphericallyconcave to conform lll@ to the shapeof the ball 8d. Thus, by looseningthe sleeve nut and screwing in the handle the socket member 86 may berigidly clamped to the ball, and by unscrewing the handle sufficientlyto release its extremity from contact with the ball, and then`tightening the sleeve lock nut 110, the handle will be rigidlyconnected to the member 86 and may be used to swinger rotate the camerai'reely about the center ol the ball. As shown in Fig. l, the outer endportion i12 of the handle is roughened and lits into a linger piece llllwhich has diametrically opposed wings 1l6 r convenience in manipulationot the han- B. I 'lhe socket member 86 is bored and threaded at y118(Fig). A double concave disc lll@ 84 by a spring 122 which is compressedby a retainer 124 threaded in the bore 118. This disc, through thepressure it exerts upon the ball, takes up any play which may be presentbetween the ball and its socket member and thus makes the connectionmore rigid.

The means for steadying the rotative movement of the camera in takingpanoramic views will now be described. I employ two steadyingmechanisms, one of which is inoperative in taking pan views, and theoher of which is inoperative in taking tilt views. .Both mechanisms areoperative when taking panoramic views in planes other than thehorizontal or vertical. The mechanism which is operative in takingpanoramic views in a horizontal plane, or in a direction having acomponent in a horizontal plane, is enclosed within a casing 126 whichis mounted so as to be rotatable about the post and rests upon the ball54, a pair of hardened steel washers 128 being interposed between thecasing and the ball to reduce the friction. A casing cover 130, securedto the casing by screws 132, has an upwardly projecting hollowed hub134, a ortion 136 of the inner surface of which gears upon the externalcylindrical surface of a flange 138 formed integrally with the ost 70and which comprises an outwarc ly projecting horizontal por ion 140 anda depending hollow substantially cylindrical portion 142-, the outersurface of which has a slight inward taper except where it contacts withthe hub 134.

u A small spirit level 144 is threaded in the cover 130, serving as anaid when leveling the head by adjustment of the position of the ball 54.

A sun gear 146, forming part of a planetary system of gearing which willbe hereinafter described, has a tapered bore of the same angle as thetaper of the portion 142 of the flange 136, and with said flange portionforms a friction clutch. rIhe sun gear may be forced upwardly intofrictional engagement with the flange portion 142 througli'asubstantially tubular cage 148 having an outwardly extending annularflange 150 and a similar inwardly extending flange 152 at its lower end.The flange 15()v serves as a support for the sun gear 146 which isgrooved to itthereover, while the flange 152 serves as a stop to limitdownward movement of a flat washer 154, which is normally resilientlyheld in the position shown by a relatively strong helical compressionspring 156, the upper end of which abuts against a washer 158. Thelatter washer is retained in the cage 148 by the inwardly extendingeyeetted flange 160 thereof. The cage, two washers, and the spring arepre-assembled, with the spring initially compressed.

The lower Washer 154 rests upon a shoulder 162 of a sleeve 164 which isaxially and rotatably movable with respect to the post 70.

This sleeve has a sidewardly projecting boss '166 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5)adjacent its lower end, which is drilled and slotted to form a yoke foran eccentric 168. The eccentric is integral with its shaft 170 which isrotatably mounted in the casing, its axis being radial with respect tothe post 70. A manually operable lever 172 is rigidly secured to theshaft 170. A springpressed ball detent 174 tends toV revent rotation ofthe shaft when the ball 1s pressed into one or the other of twodiametrically oppositely disposed depressions 176 in the shaft, whichregister with the detent when the lever is thrown into either right orleft hand horizontal position, indicated by the words Off and On markedupon the cylindrical 'surface of the casing 126 (Fig. l). Axial movementof the shaft 170 is prevented by the post 70 and an annular shoulder 178on the shaft. In Figs. 1 and 2, the parts are shown in the positionsassumed when the lever 172 is in the Ofl' position, that is, with thesun gear free to rotate relative to the post 7 0. When the lever isswung through an angle of 180o to the On position, the eccentric 168raises the sleeve 164 which through its shoulder 162, the washer 154,the spring 156, washer 158, and cage 148, resiliently forces the sungear upwardly into frictional clutching engagement with the taperedouter surface of the flange 138. This clutch and clutch operatingmechanism is relatively simple in construction, and takes up very littlespace and may be easily assembled and is readily accessible forinspection or repair.

As previously intimated, the sun gear 146 forms part of a train of speedincreasing gearing which together with a flywheel is used to steady therotative movement of the camera in taking pan views. As best shown inFigs. 11 and 12, a plurality of spindles 180, here shown as seven innumber, are secured between the casing 126 and the cover l), their endsbeing held in sockets 182 and 184 formed in the casing and coverrespectively. The spindles each have bearing surfaces 186 of enlargeddiameter, formed adjacent their ends. Sleeves or tubular shafts 188 arerotatably mounted on the spindles, and hardened steel washers 190provided to form friction reducing end thrust bearings between thesleeves and the casing 126. Each of these sleeves 188, with theexception of the last of the series, has a small pinion 192 formedintegrally therewith, and a larger gear 194 secured thereto.

To facilitate the making of these sleeves, gear and pinion assemblies, Ihave devised a novel method of manufacture. Starting with a rod ofapproximately the same diameter as the outside diameter of the pinions,teeth are first cut the full length of the rod by milling, or other wellknown method. The rod is then cut to the desired length and all of theteeth, except a portion twice the face of the pinion 192 desired, areturned otl. The gear 194 having its bore punched or broached to conformto the outline of the pinion is then pressed over the pinion until itsside lies flush with one side thereof.

' ner similar to that employed in securing the gears to the sleeves.

Assuming the sun gear 146 to be rictionally held stationary, (the lever172 having been turned to its Gn position) rotation ot' the casing 126and its cover 130 which is constrained to rotate therewith by lugs i598which t in corresponding slots in the casing, will set the gear train inmotion, since the rst pinion 1,92 of the series will have an epicyclicor planetary movement about the sun ear 146. Due to the large gearratio, the tlyw eel 196 will rotate at a very high speed, and as aresult oi its inertia, will exert a sutliciently large force materiallyto. retard accelerative and decelerative rotational movement of thecasing and its cover, 'lhe flywheel thus steadies the movement ot thecamera, making it impossible, with an exception hereinafter to beexplained, to move the camera in an uneven, jerky manner with theresultthat' the reproduced motion pictures will appear rmooth andwithout the sudden shifts of view so frequently observed,

As best illustrated in ligs, 2, 8, 9 and in dotted lines in Fig. 6, thesocket member 86 has a pair or. oppositely disposed plane arcuate shapedguiding surfaces 198 and 200 termed at the lower part thereof, whichslide in a slot 202, which may best be described as having been cut by acylindrical milling cutter, of a length equal to the distance betweenthe surfaces 198 'and 200, disposed diametrically across the hub 134,with the hub fed toward the cutter in a direction coincident with theaxis of the hub. rlfhis milled. slot thus serves as a guide for thesocket member,

4 permitting tree rotation thereof about a horizontal anis of the ball84, but preventing rotation thereof relative to the cover 130 and casing126 about a. vertical axis. A. shallow radial groove 208 may be cut inthe surface 200, or a line etched thereon, and a horizontal radial line20.1; :formed upon the top surface of the hubll34, these grooves orlines to indicate by their registry that tne camera supporting plate islevel.

rlhe inertia steadying means operable upon rotation ci the socket memberabout a horizontal axis, as when taking tilt7 views, is contained withina casing 204 which is secured to a cover 206 formed integrally with thesocket vmember 86 by three screws 208. A

tubular element 210 (Fig. 10g having a dange 212 shaped similar to theange 138, is rotatably mounted in the easing 204 having a bearing at theshoulder 214 formed in the socket member 86. A hardened steel Washer 216lies between the inner end of the element 210 and a second shoulder 218in the socket member. The inner end of the tubular member is concave andspaced slightly away from the ball 84, 'but is prevented from rotationwith respect to the ball by a pair of arcuate lugs 220 which lie withinthe groove 82 of the ball. These lugs permit the socket member 86 to bemoved rotatively about a vertical axis in taking pan views, but make itpossible to obtain relative rotation between the socket member and thetubular element 210 when taking tilt views. rlhis relative rotationalmovementis transmitted through speed increasing gearin to a dyn/heel bymechanism, similar to that a ove described with reference to steadyingthe pan et the camera, `and serves as a steadying means for the tilt otthe camera. The tilt steadying mechanism may be engaged and disengagedby a lever 222 which is similar to the lever 17 2 and operates in asimilar manner. The remaining parts of the tilt steadying mechanism areexactly similar to the corresponding parts ot the pan steadyingmechanism, and are therefore designated by similar referencecharacters., Further O detailed description thereof is, therefore,believed to be unnecessary.

In utilizing the tripod head of my invention for the supportot largesize professional motion picture cameras, ll preferably employ meanswithin the pan7 and tilt steadying mechanism for ltaking up the play orbacklash in the train of the speed increasing gearing. l haveillustrated such means in Figs, 13 and 14, rlhe gearing is mountedwithin the casing 224 which is closed by a cover plate 226. The ends ofspindles 228 have dattened portions 230, as best illustrated in crosssection in Fig. 18, and are mounted in elongated slots 232 and 234formed within the casing 224 and cover 226 respectivelye These slotsextend radially .so that the spindle is capable of slight lateralmovement, radial with respect to the casing, A sleeve 236 is rotatabl rmounted on each of the spindles 228, bearing upon short portions 238 ofenlarged diameter, 1

Hardened steel washers 240 reduce the triction between the ends ot thesleeve and the casing and cover. llinions 242 may be formed integrallywith the sleeve 36, as previously described, anda gear 244 pressed uponthe pinion. A. pair ci plungers 246 guided for axial movement withinradial bores 248 and 250 in the casing 224 and cover 226, respec-atively, have' their inner end portions shaped to conform to thecylindrical surface oi the end portions of the spindle 228. Theseplungers normally tend to move the spindle radially inwardly relative tothe casing, being im# pelled by springs 252 which are retained Withinthe bores 248 and 250 by screws 254.

It is, o course, highly desirable to have theminimum of play in thistrain of gearing since a relatively small amount of play between eachpair of meshing teeth will in the aggregate make possible considerableplay between the sun gear 256 and its casing 224, with the consequentresult of materially decreasin the steadying eflicacy of the mechanism.y having each of the spindles pressed inwardly along planes convergingat the axis of the sun gear, the teeth of the gears and pinions willalways be retained fully in mesh with each other so that pla-y orbacklash between the gears and pinions will be eliminated. Since theeffect of play in the gear train at the pinions nearest the flywheel 258is much less than the effect of play between the sun gear and the firstpinion of the series, the means for resiliently forcing the pinions andgears in tight mesh with each other,l for the last three spindles of theseries, may be omitted without greatly increasing the play or back-lashof the train of gears as a who] e.

In the use of the tripod head of my invention the head plate 50 1s firstroughly leveled by adjusting the positions of the tripod legs, and thepost is then brought to an exactly vertical position by adjusting andthen clamping the ball 54 in its socket. The s irit level 144 willindicate when the axis o the Eost 70 is exactly horizontal, whereuponthe all 54 may be clamped in its socket 52 by screwing down the nut 56,using the handle 108 as a lever if desired. Having attached the cameraby means of the screw 100, the 'device is ready for use.

The method of operation followed when it is desired to take a pluralityof separate views in differentdirections, with the camera heldstationary during the taking of each view, will now be described. Thelevers 172 and 222 are each turned to the off position, if notpreviously thus adjusted, and the handle 108 screwed outwardly to theposition approximately as shown in Fig. 6. The camera may then bepointed in any desired direction by means of the handle 108 and lockedin .the desired position by turning the handle to bring its sphericallyconcave extremity into clamping contact with the outer surface of ball84. By turning the handle 108 about a half turn clockwise, the socketmember 86, and hence the camera, may be rigidly clamped in a fixedposition or by turning the handle counter-clockwise be free to moverelative to th ball.

If it is desired to take panoramic views without the use of the inertiacontrolled steadying mechanism, the locking nut 110 is turned up againstthe boss 106 thereby rigidlv holding the handle in the socket member.

he camera may then be moved in any desired direction at any desiredspeed by swinging the operating handle.

If it is desired to take a horizontal panoramic view, the pan steadyingmechanism is frictionally connected to the flange 138 by turning thelever 172 to the on position, whereupon rotation of the socket member86, and hence the camera, about a vertical axis of the post will causethe first pinion 192 of the series of speed increasing gears to rotatewith respect to the sun gear and thereby cause rotation of the flywheel196. The inertia of the flywheel and the train of gearing will, ofcourse, tend to retard rapid acceleration of the rotative motion of thecamera, and will also tend to maintain the speed after rotation of thecamera has commenced by retarding deceleration. 1t will, therefore,compensate for the irregularities of the manual force applied upon thehandle 108 to rotate the camera. If, however, it is desired suddenly toshift the camera or to stop it suddenly, as for example whenphotographing an automobile which is suddenly stopped, the inertiasteadying mechanism will be automatically disconnected, due to the factthat the sun gear 146 is held in frictional engagement with the flange142 by the spring 156 so that whenever a sudden powerful force isexerted upon the operating handle the sun gear will slip with respect tothe flange.

When it is desired to take a c"tilt view the lever 222 is thrown to theon position, thereby frictionally connecting the sun gear `of the tiltsteadying mechanism with the flange 212 of the tubular element 210. Ifdesired the pan steadying mechanism may be left in operative position sothat its inertia will serve as a retardant to prevent deflection of thecamera from the true vertical plane. When taking the tilt view thecasing 204 will rotate with respect to the element 210 which is heldagainst rotation relative to the ball 84 by the inter-engagement of thelugs 220 in the groove 82. As previously described this relativerotation between these parts is transmitted through the speed increasinggearing to a flywheel which has the efl'ect of retardingrapid'acceleration and deceleration in the movement of the socket 86with respect to the ball 84.

When taking a panoramic View in a plane other than the vertical orhorizontal, both steadying mechanisms are rendered operative bythrowingthe levers 222 and 172 to their On positions, whereupon movementof the Socket member in any plane other than the horizontal or verticalwill cause rotation of both of the flywheels in the steadyingmechanisms. The combined retarding force of the two steadying mechanismswill be slightly greater than the retarding force of one of them, aswhen taking a horizontal or vertical panoramic View, buJ due to the factthat the component of the'velocity of rotation which. is transmitted tothese mechanisms respectively Will be considerably less than the velocity of rotation transmitted to one of said mechanisms when takingeither a pan or tilt view the difference in the retarding force will notbe great and the two steadying mechanisms will tend to cause rotation ofthe camera to continue in the plane of its incipiency.

'While I have shown and described particular embodiments of myinvention, I do not wish the scope thereof to be limited to theparticular construction illustrated. Various modications may bemadewithout departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described., the combination of a postadapted to be ixed in vertical position and having a ball at its upperend, a camera supporting socket member universally mounted upon saidball, a casing secured to said member, gearing means in said casingadapted to steady rotative movement of said member relative to said ballabout a horizontal axis, said means, including a sun gear. an elementcooperating with said ball and thereby prevented from. rotating withsaid socket member when the latter is rotated about a. horizontal axis,and nia-- u i pulative means for connecting said sun gear to saidelement, whereby said gearing means may be rendered operative.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a post adaptedto be fixed in vertical position, a ball having a horizontal groove inits outer surface, an instrument supporting socket member fitting oversaid ball, a casing secured to said member, inertia controlled steadyingmechanism in said casing, an element having means engaging the groove insaid ball, and means for connecting said mechanism to said element torender said mechanism operative.

3. In a device ofthe class described, the combination of a stationaryelement having a horizontally grooved ball at its upper end,

'an instrument supporting socket member universally mounted on saidball, an element carried by said member and having a lug permanentlydisposed and slidable in the groove in said ball, and manipulative meansfor connecting said member to said element, thereby preventing freerotative movement of said member about a horizontal axis and relative tosaid ball, but permitting free rotative movement thereof about avertical axis.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a post adaptedto be fixed in vertical position and having a ball at its upper end, acamera supporting socket member universally mounted upon said ball, acasing rigidly connected to said member, gearing means in said casingadapted to steady rotative movement of said member relative to saidball, an element stationary with respect to said ball, and manipulativemeans for connecting said means to said element, whereby said gearingmeans may be rendered operative.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a stationaryball, a :amera supporting socket member universally mounted upon saidball, a casing rigidly connected to said member, gearing means in saidcasing adapted `to steady rotative movement of said member relative tosaid ball about a vertical axis, an element stationary with re spect tosaid ball and manipulative means for connecting said means to saidelement, whereby said gearing means may be rendered operative.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a post, a ballfixed relative to said post and having a horizontal groove in its outersurface, an instrument supporting socket member tting over said ball anduniversally movable with respect thereto, a cas ing secured to saidmember, inertia controlled steadying mechanism in said casing, anelement having means engaging the groove in said ball, and means' forconnecting said mechanism to said element.

'l'. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tripodhead plate, a post universally connected therewith and adapted to beclamped thereto with its axis vertical. a ball at the upper end 'of saidpost, camera supporting means including a. socket member fittingpartially around said ball whereby said means may be universally movedwith respect to said ball,.inertia controlled steadying means operativeupon rotation of said supporting means about a horizontal axis. inertiacontroled steadying means operative upon rotation of said supportingmeans about a vertical axis, and friction clutch means for renderingeither or both of said steadying means inoperative.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a universallyadjustable element, a vertical post carried thereby and having a fixedball at its upper end, acamera supporting socket member universallymounted ony said ball, a casing rotatably mounted on said post, aconnection between said socket member and said casing for transmittingonly the rotative movement of said member about a vertical axis to saidcasing, and means for reducing the drag of friction between said casingand said element.

9. In a device of the class described, the

vne

combination of a relatively stationary ball, a camera supporting socketmember universally mounted thereon, a casing fixed with respect to saidmember, inertia means in said casing for regulating rotative movement ofsaid socket member about a horizontal axis, an element held againstrotative movement about a horizontal axis, and means for reducing thefriction between said element and said member.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a verticalpost having a ball at its upper end, a socket fitting partially aroundsaid ball and universally movable relative thereto, a casing rotatableabout said post; and forming part of a train of planetary gearing,inertia controlled mechanism for steadying rotative movement thereofabout said post, and cooperating means on said socket and said casmg fortransmitting rotation of said socket about a vertical axis to saidcasing.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sun gear, acasing rotatable relative thereto, a speed increasing gear trainincluding a plurality of gears and pinions mounted so as to be laterallvslidable in a direction radial with respect to said sun gear, andresilient means tending to move said gears and pinionsin said direction,whereby back-lash may be reduced.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tripod headplate, a post 'universally connected therewith and adapted to be clampedthereto with its axis vertical, a ball at the upper end of said post,camera supporting means including a socket memberriittin partiallyaround said ball,

, said means belng universally movable with `lili respect to said ball,inertia controlled steadying means operative upon rotation of saidsupporting means about a horizontal axis, inertia controlled steadyingmeans operative upon rotation of said supporting means about a verticalaxis, and selective means for rendering either or both of said steadyingmeans inoperative.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a universallyadjustable post adapted to be fixed with its axis vertical, a ball atthe upper end of said post, instrument supporting means universallymounted upon said ball, inertia controlled steadying means adapted torotate about said post upon rotation of said supporting means about avertical axis, and manipulative means for forcing an element of saidsteadyingmeans into frictional engagement with said post.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination of a universallyadjustable postl adapted to be clamped in vertical position, a ballsecured at the upper end of said post, a socket'member fitting over saidball and universally movable thereon, said member having a pair ofupwardly extending lugs,

a camera supporting plate secured upon said lugs, and a camera attachingscrew extending through said plate and having an enlarged headpositioned between said lugs.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a stationaryelement, a member having rotative movement with respect to said element,means including planetary7 gearing for governing the relative rotationalmovement between said element and member, and manipulative meanscomprising a precompressed resilient means for forcing said gearing intoengagement with said element, a manually shiftable lever, and cam meansoperated thereby for exerting additional pressure upon said spring.

16. In a. device of the class described, the combination of a relativelystationary ball, a camera supporting socket member universally mountedthereon, a casingy fixed with respect to said member and inertia. meanswithin said casing for steadying rotative movement of said casing abouta horizontal axis through said ball.

17. In a device of the class described, a relatively stationary post,having an outwardly and downwardly extending flange, said fiange havinga frusto-conical outer surface, a casing rotatable about said post, acamera supporting member universally connected to said post andconnected to said casing so as to be non-rotatable about the verticalaxis thereof, speed increasing gearing in said casing, a central gearnormally rotatable with respect to said flange, having an internalsurface complementally to the outer surface of said flange and meshingwith said gearing, and resilient pressure means for frictionallyconnecting said gear to said fiange.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination of a.universally mounted camera supporting member, means to prevent rapidaccelerative and decelerative movement thereof, comprising a casing, atrain of planetary speed increasing earing mounted upon spindles Withinsai casing, a. liy wheel geared to the last element of said speedincreasing gear train, and a sun gear forming the first element of saidgear train; a. frictional clutch for rendering such gear train and iywheel operative, and manipulative means for operating said clutchincluding an operating member extending radially into said casingbetween the spindles of the first and last elements of said gear train.

19. In a device of the class described, rotation steadying meanscomprising'a sun gear adapted to be held stationary, a casing rotatablewith respect to said sun gear, a plurality of spindles borne by saidcasing and arranged equi-distant from its axis of rotation, a. speedincreasing gear train mounted upon said spindles, the first. pinion ofsaid train being in mesh with said sun gear and means for frictions;

memes the last pinion of seid trein having e y Wheel xed 'thereto ndmanually opeehle ly holding seid sm gem sotionery, said means oompmsng emember extenda radially with resoeo'; iso sei@ oesng end wing a camoemensdsped io Iforce seid sun gea? into riotiono'il ooncec with saidstationary memher,

n Witness whereof hereunto subscribe myvname this 2 day o Se tomber,1927.

OS AR U. ZERK.

